598 Note on the Limboos, and other Hill Tribes, [No. 102. 



habits and propensities of the Limboos, or to both combined, I 

 know not ; but it is certain that they are not much attached to 

 their Goorkha rulers, and that they do not possess in connexion 

 with them any of the strong national spirit, which so markedly 

 characterises the Khas and Mogors, or real Goorkhas. 



It has been shewn that in former times the Limboos were a war- 

 like race, and a good deal devoted to arms, although subjects of Nipal, 

 and this way disposed, they do not strictly speaking belong to 

 the military tribes of modern Nipal.* They are however found in 

 the ranks of the Nipalese army at Cathmandu, and in the Provinces ; 

 but I am not aware that they are represented in any of the higher 

 grades of civil or military office. Their principal occupations now- 

 a-days are agriculture, grazing, and petty trading; but referring 

 to their former history, they consider themselves a military race, 

 and desire others to regard them as people who from the pressure 

 of adverse circumstances, f are temporarily driven to these ignominious 

 employments, but who are ready, on fitting occasion, to resume the 

 sword as their more proper and desired means of livelihood. That the 

 Limboos are disposed to a military life, may be inferred from the 

 circumstance that fifty of this tribe from Nipal have been enlisted at 

 Darjeeling this season ; that the Lepchas are averse to such a life, may 

 equally be inferred from the fact that there is not one individual 

 of this race under arms at the place. The subdivisions of the tract in- 

 habited by the Limboos are two — " Kirant Des," extending from the 

 Dood-Koosi west, to the Arun river east, and the Limbuan country of 

 the Limboos from the Arun west, to the Konki river east. 



The Limboos, using the term in the extended sense already noticed, 

 are ranged under two great divisions, viz. " Hung," and " Rai,"| 

 and subdivided into the following families or clans : — 



* See Mr. Hodgson's Account of these tribes in the As. Soc. Journal. 



f The Khas, Mogors and Gurungs furnish the great bulk of the Nipal Army, and 

 are probably preferable as soldiers to the Limboos. 



% Are these the original " Huns," so long sought for in the mountains of Asia by 

 Mr. Csoma de Koros ? 



